Charles Barkley is not sure what his broadcasting future holds beyond the expiration of Turner’s current NBA rights deal. Plus: Netflix has plans to live stream a golf event later this year; Julian Edelman joins FOX NFL Kickoff.
Barkley unsure of broadcasting future beyond current TV deal
TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley told the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast this week that he will remain with the network through the expiration of its current media rights deal two years from now and evaluate his broadcasting future afterward. In the event that TNT were to lose rights, he indicated he would only move to another network if accompanied by his “Inside the NBA” colleagues.
Barkley: “I wouldn’t go by myself … and I would find it hard to go without Ernie, to be honest with you. Obviously me, Kenny and Shaq are close, but Ernie is the guy.”
Even if TNT were to remain an NBA rightsholder, Barkley said he does not expect to remain with the company through the entirety of his new ten-year contract, reiterating a claim he has made multiple times since signing the deal last year. Barkley said that he signed the ten-year deal because “[WBD] wanted me to let people know I wasn’t leaving, like, next week” and added that there is “no chance” he will be working to age 70. Barkley had in previous years said he would retire at 60, his current age. (SI, 8.24)
Netflix to live stream golf
Netflix plans to carry a live golf competition featuring athletes from its PGA Tour documentary series “Full Swing” later this year, according to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal. The event will also feature Formula One drivers from the streaming platform’s successful “Drive to Survive” series.
Historically, Netflix has shied away from live sports broadcasts. Last April, the streaming service ran into technical issues when attempting to live stream the finale to popular reality show “Love Is Blind,” which resulted in the show being recorded and released the following day. The snafu drew criticism and became cause for concern as Netflix contemplates getting into live sports. (SBJ, 8.24)
Julian Edelman joins FOX
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman will join “FOX NFL Kickoff” this season, it was announced Thursday. Edelman will join host Charissa Thompson and analysts Charles Woodson, Michael Vick, and Peter Schraeger.
Edelman spent the 2022 season as an analyst on “Inside the NFL” for Paramount+.
Read the full press release here.
CBS to carry Friday night NWSL match
The CBS broadcast network has added the Friday, October 6 NWSL match between Washington and the OL Reign, which is expected to mark the final regular season home match in the career of OL Reign F Megan Rapinoe. The match, which has been moved to an 8 PM ET start, will mark the second primetime NWSL window ever on broadcast television and the first to air on a weeknight. The previous primetime window aired on a Saturday, the least-watched night of the week.
